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Police has started searching for two endangered turtles after theft indianapolis The zoo waited 11 days to report him missing.
An Egyptian tortoise and a northern spider tortoise, both of which are on the critically endangered species list, were taken from their enclosure in the zoo’s desert exhibit between 10 am on October 11 and 10 am on October 12 local time. Indiana State police say.
Captain Ron Galawicz of the Indiana State Police confirmed this. fox 59 The turtles were not reported missing until last Thursday.
On Monday, officials asked for the public’s help in finding the two turtles on Facebook Post,
Facebook users raised questions as to how theft could happen.
“I’m curious how you stole not one but two turtles from the zoo?” One user wrote.
To which another replied, “We recently went to the Indianapolis Zoo and they’re not actually in an enclosed enclosure. They’re just with a very accessible fence type thing in the middle that you can reach over and pick it up.”
A third user commented, “How do you walk out of the zoo with 2 turtles? That would be a big rain coat.”
But Galaviz said the stolen turtles were small.
“The turtles are not the big giant turtles that you see people sitting on and riding,” he told Fox 59. “These are really very small, would probably fit in the palm of your hand.”
Galaviz said the turtles could be anywhere by now.
“They could end up in a pet store. They could be in someone’s private aquarium somewhere that obviously we don’t know about, [the] Black market. I think the possibilities are endless,” he said.
Independent The zoo has contacted Indiana State Police for comment and an update on the turtles’ whereabouts.
According to the zoo’s website, Egyptian tortoises typically grow to four inches long and weigh one pound, and are endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade. Northern spider turtles, which grow five inches long and weigh one pound, suffer from habitat loss and poaching.
Zoo spokesperson Jake Oakman said in a statement shared ABC NewsIt is “working closely with law enforcement to investigate the theft.”
“We look forward to his safe return and we appreciate the community’s support during this time,” Oakman said.
Indiana State Police asked anyone with information that could help locate the turtles to contact police.